Singh attorney seeks records

Friday

Aug 1, 2014 at 12:01 AM

STOCKTON - An attorney representing the family of slain hostage Misty Holt-Singh has formally filed records requests asking local law enforcement agencies for information pertaining to a July 16 bank robbery that led to a deadly gun battle between heavily armed gunmen and police.

Jason Anderson

STOCKTON - An attorney representing the family of slain hostage Misty Holt-Singh has formally filed records requests asking local law enforcement agencies for information pertaining to a July 16 bank robbery that led to a deadly gun battle between heavily armed gunmen and police.

Greg Bentley, an attorney based in Los Angeles County, said he mailed records requests Thursday, addressing them to the Stockton Police Department, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office, the California Highway Patrol and the Lodi Police Department. Holt-Singh, a 41-year-old wife and mother, was found dead in a bullet-riddled getaway vehicle following an hourlong high-speed pursuit and a shootout that killed two bank robbery suspects.

"The Singh family has been crushed by this horrible tragedy and are searching for answers," Bentley said. "The family is seeking answers as to how such a wonderful woman could be lost in such a horrific fashion."

Officer Joe Silva, a spokesman for the Stockton Police Department, and city spokeswoman Connie Cochran said Thursday they had not received the records requests. When they do, they will forward them to the City Attorney's Office for legal review, they said.

Citing the California Public Records Act, Bentley requested information such as incident reports, records of 911 calls and radio calls, photographs, videos and other evidence documenting the incident as well as protocols for kidnappings, pursuits and the use of deadly force.

"We know a fundamental tenet of law enforcement is protection, and within that there are fundamental principles called 'Priority of Life,'" Bentley said, apparently alluding to standards outlined by the National Tactical Officers Association. "The first priority in all circumstances is: No. 1 hostages, No. 2 bystanders, No. 3 police and No. 4 suspects.

"We know Misty was a hostage inside a vehicle and she was tragically taken, and so we want to see whether or not proper protocol was followed, whether proper systems and protocol were in place, and whether there was proper training and execution. We're asking the department to provide us with the policies, procedures and guidelines that are in place as well as information regarding whether or not the protocol in place was followed or if, perhaps, there were mistakes or a breakdown in communication that occurred, resulting in the tragic death of an innocent hostage."

Silva said he could not comment on Bentley's remarks, saying details of the case are the subject of an ongoing multiagency protocol investigation.

Timothy Clemente, a retired SWAT expert for the FBI, said officers were forced to make difficult decisions as they pursued suspects who continuously fired at them with an AK-47-style assault rifle. Hundreds of shots were fired during the pursuit and the final shootout, police said. Fourteen police vehicles, a number of civilian vehicles and residences were struck by gunfire, authorities said.

"When you have a hostage in there, it changes the ballgame altogether because you can't risk the life of a hostage to stop the bad guy," Clemente told The Associated Press. "(But) if these guys are driving down the highway and they're spraying AK-47 fire and a lot of innocents are put in danger by that fire, then maybe my return fire is absolutely needed to cease their action."

Police have said it is still unclear when Holt-Singh was shot or by whom. Bentley said Thursday that question remains unanswered.

Bentley said he and the Singh family have not determined whether they will file a lawsuit over Holt-Singh's death.

"It's simply too early to evaluate or answer that question because we don't have enough information to evaluate what happened," he said.

Bentley confirmed that he and some of Holt-Singh's family members, including her husband, Paul Singh, and sister, Dawn Holt, have met with Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones on multiple occasions since the shootout occurred.

"We met with Chief Jones and we are pleased that he has committed to an open, honest, transparent line of communication with the family regarding the investigation as information develops," Bentley said. "We'll take him on his word in that regard and look forward to honest and timely answers."

Contact reporter Jason Anderson at (209) 546-8279 or janderson@recordnet.com. Follow him at recordnet.com/crimeblog and on Twitter @stockton911.